2020 Editor's Choice Walking
Best UK hotels for walking and hiking
The Traddock - Tasting Menu Special Offer
Austwick
‘We have stayed many times, and it remains a favourite,’ writes a trusted reader after this year's visit to the Reynolds family’s popular, dog-friendly Dales hotel.
Pendragon Country House - Two and Three Night Special Offer
Camelford
We can't say whether King Arthur stabled Llamrei in the equestrian centre next door, but the once and future king lives on in this small hotel near Tintagel, named after Uther Pendragon.
Biggin Hall
Buxton
‘The garden was entertaining at mealtimes. There seemed to be more hens on the lawn this time.’ A trusted reader on a third visit captures the spirit of James Moffett’s manor house hotel in a 'delightful Peak District location'.
Ees Wyke Country House
Ambleside
‘Strongly endorsed by readers this year: ‘The exceptional ambience of this very fine English country house hotel reflects Richard Lee’s personal, multi-talented approach.’
Tudor Farmhouse
Clearwell
‘A wonderful find. We had a lovely few days.’ Praise from readers in 2019 for Hari and Colin Fell’s Elizabethan farmhouse-cum-boutique hotel in a Forest of Dean village.
Sheedy’s
Lisdoonvarna
On the crest of a hill overlooking the Burren, this 18th-century hotel is a cheerful landmark on the Lisdoonvarna townscape, from its yellow-painted facade to its front path lined with blooms.
The Gurnard’s Head
St Ives
‘It never fails to please,’ write Guide regulars in 2019 after a return visit to Charles and Edmund Inkin’s dining pub with rooms. ‘We highly recommend the accommodation and the food.’
Dolffanog Fawr
Tywyn
‘Alex and Lorraine's 18th-century farmhouse offers a level of hospitality to rival many of the best small hotels in the UK.’
Knockendarroch Hotel
Pitlochry
‘A real centre of hospitality.’ Trusted Guide readers visiting Struan and Louise Lothian’s small hotel were impressed this year by the ‘attentive but never intrusive service, and superb meals’.
Llanthony Priory Hotel
Abergavenny
‘In the beautiful landscape of the Welsh Borders’, in the Vale of Ewyas, and within the precincts of a ruined Augustinian abbey, Victoria and Geoff Neal’s hotel incorporates a Grade I listed medieval tower.
2019 Editor's Choice Walking
Best UK hotels for walking and hiking
The Peacock at Rowsley - 25% Discount Offer
Rowsley
Whether exploring the estate around medieval Haddon Hall, or tackling more challenging terrain in the Peak District national park, walkers are in their element at Lord and Lady Manners’s 17th-century hotel. Ask reception for their walks folder.
Leathes Head Hotel
BORROWDALE, KESWICK
Guests can order a picnic before setting out from this Edwardian country house hotel, perhaps to follow a waymarked path ten miles around Derwentwater, or to climb to the top of Catbells for panoramic views.
Trevalsa Court
Mevagissey
Steps from the Coastal Path, this friendly small hotel offers a variety of walking and strolling options. Head across country to the Lost Gardens of Heligan – lost no more – and return for a Cornish cream tea.
Dunkery Beacon Country House
Wootton Courtenay
From this Edwardian hunting lodge, walkers climb to the top of the eponymous beacon hill, or pick up the Coleridge Way across Exmoor towards Lynmouth or Nether Stowey in the footsteps of the great poet. How romantic is that!
Farlam Hall
Brampton
Thoughtful route guides to local walks have been compiled by the long-time owners of this manor house hotel near the top of the North Pennines and just three miles from coast-to-coast Hadrian’s Wall Path.
The Creggans Inn
Strachur
From a stroll along the Loch Fyne shore, to exploring enchanted Puck’s Glen, broad leaf and conifer forests and waterfalls, great walks start at the door of this friendly inn, or are just a short drive away.
Stella Maris
Ballycastle
You pass a blow hole on the walk to the sea stack of Downpatrick Head, topped with the ruins of a church founded by St Patrick. One of many thrilling forays from this hotel on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Timberstone
Clee Stanton
Tea and biscuits await Rover’s return to this dog-friendly rural B&B, after a day roaming the blue remembered hills of Shropshire, visiting Ironbridge Gorge, or browsing the specialist food shops in nearby Ludlow.
Bryniau Golau
BALA
You can take a scenic walk around Bala lake, pick up a family or heritage trail, head for hill or mountain, from this lovely Snowdonia B&B. A good breakfast sets you up; drying facilities await your return.
The Plough
Lechlade
You can pick up the Thames Path from this welcoming pub-with-rooms in the William Morris heartlands, perhaps to walk to Lechlade, or past a pretty lock- keeper’s cottage, for a crafty pint in The Trout at Tadpole Bridge.
2018 Editor's Choice Walking
Best UK hotels for walking and hiking
Porth Tocyn Hotel - October Wine-Tasting Event Special Offer
Abersoch
There is a deceptive ‘wacky’ quality to the Fletcher-Brewers’ ‘lovely’ hotel overlooking Cardigan Bay, a casual vibe that belies the professionalism of the operation.
The Peacock at Rowsley - 25% Discount Offer
Rowsley
They get so much right at Lord and Lady Manners's 17th-century manor house hotel. Expect a ‘friendly welcome’, ‘good ambience’, housekeeping 'beyond reproach' and 'interesting old paintings', many of members of the owners' family.
Hazel Bank
Keswick
‘Great hotel, great food,' enthuse American readers in 2019, rating Gary and Donna MacRae’s ‘Lakeland gem’ as the ‘best hotel of our five-week European trip – and we stayed in some superb places’.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
‘Conjuring up an image of a heartier England, with hunting, idiosyncratic aristocracy and solid home comforts', this ‘great inn’ continued to delight readers this year.
Currarevagh House
Oughterard
Opened as a sporting lodge by owner Henry Hodgson’s great grandfather in 1890, this Victorian country house is surely Ireland's longest-standing hotel under family ownership.
Ees Wyke Country House
Ambleside
‘Strongly endorsed by readers this year: ‘The exceptional ambience of this very fine English country house hotel reflects Richard Lee’s personal, multi-talented approach.’
Crossways Hotel
Wilmington
David Stott and Clive James ‘nurture an atmosphere of repose and tranquillity, along with informality and laughter and the friendliest of warm welcomes’ at their restaurant-with-rooms beneath the South Downs.
Tudor Farmhouse
Clearwell
‘A wonderful find. We had a lovely few days.’ Praise from readers in 2019 for Hari and Colin Fell’s Elizabethan farmhouse-cum-boutique hotel in a Forest of Dean village.
Moor of Rannoch-Restaurant & Rooms
Rannoch Station
‘The very-much-in-evidence hosts, Scott and Stephanie Meikle, have transformed this remote property into a “restaurant-with-(very-well-equipped-and-designed-)rooms”.’
The Gurnard’s Head
St Ives
‘It never fails to please,’ write Guide regulars in 2019 after a return visit to Charles and Edmund Inkin’s dining pub with rooms. ‘We highly recommend the accommodation and the food.’
2017 Editor's Choice Walking
Best UK hotels for walking and hiking
Pen-y-Dyffryn - Up to 30% Discount & Complimentary Afternoon Tea Special Offer
Oswestry
‘Our third visit. Most of the other guests were also returners. It isn’t surprising.’ Readers are drawn back time and again to this stone rectory in ‘immaculate gardens’, overlooking the Welsh hills.
Glenfinnan House Hotel - Three nights for Two Special Offer
Fort William
In one of the most dramatic settings of any UK hotel, Jane MacFarlane's 18th-century-cum-Victorian mansion stands against a backdrop of woodland and mountain, overlooking Loch Shiel.
Howtown Hotel
Penrith
Bong, bong! It is dinner time at this ancient farmhouse-turned-hotel in grounds bordering Lake Ullswater, where the gong still summons guests to table.
Biggin Hall
Buxton
‘The garden was entertaining at mealtimes. There seemed to be more hens on the lawn this time.’ A trusted reader on a third visit captures the spirit of James Moffett’s manor house hotel in a 'delightful Peak District location'.
Tudor Farmhouse
Clearwell
‘A wonderful find. We had a lovely few days.’ Praise from readers in 2019 for Hari and Colin Fell’s Elizabethan farmhouse-cum-boutique hotel in a Forest of Dean village.
The Felin Fach Griffin
Brecon
Brothers Charles and Edmund Inkin invite you to eat, drink, sleep. Pray and love, too, by all means: there is a free-and-easy vibe at this dining pub, ‘a truly wonderful place’.
Moor of Rannoch-Restaurant & Rooms
Rannoch Station
‘The very-much-in-evidence hosts, Scott and Stephanie Meikle, have transformed this remote property into a “restaurant-with-(very-well-equipped-and-designed-)rooms”.’
Dunkery Beacon Country House
Wootton Courtenay
An Edwardian hunting lodge, rumoured to have served in the 1960s as an MI6 training centre, is today a welcoming country house hotel where sleepers wake to glorious views over Exmoor.
Boskerris Hotel
St Ives
Built as a small hotel, this bright, airy property, 'halfway up the hill behind Carbis Bay beach', has been offering 'stunning sea views' since 1931.
Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel
Nant Gwynant
At the foot of Snowdonia, the Pullees’ ‘eccentric’ hotel is run by the same family who hosted Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay as they trained to climb Everest, and not a lot has changed since.
2016 Editor's Choice Walking
Best UK hotels for walking and hiking
Titchwell Manor - 10% Midweek Discount Special Offer
Brancaster
‘A log fire was burning in a small sitting room’ when our inspectors arrived on a rainy night, at Eric Snaith’s Victorian farmhouse hotel overlooking field and marsh to the sea.
Underleigh House
Hope
‘Near the end of a quiet cul-de-sac lane’, within the Peak District national park, Vivienne and Philip Taylor welcome guests to their farmhouse B&B, ‘overlooking the beauty of Hope valley’.
The Burgoyne
REETH
‘A delight,’ writes one reader this year of Mo and Julia Usman’s Georgian hotel overlooking the green. ‘Fantastic views, cosy comfy atmosphere, exceptional cuisine and service.’